SGBK20002U Macroecology and Community Ecology
MSc Programme in Biology - restriced elective
MSc Programme in Nature Management - restricted elective
MSc Programme in Biology with a minor subject - restricted
elective
MSc Programme in Environmental Science - restricted
elective
Species’ distribution and abundance from community to global scale:
- Basics: Species concepts, Biomes, Biogeography
- The role of history, evolution, climate, climate change and biotic interactions in shaping diversity patterns
- Spatial diversity gradients: Area, Latitude, Altitude/depth, Isolation, Habitat diversity, Productivity
- Temporal diversity gradients: Geological, Geomorphological, Historical, Evolutionary and Ecological time scales
- Community scale: Niches, Filters, Competition, Mutualism, Disturbance, Succession, Species pools
- Macro scale: Diversity-stability, Diversity-productivity, Equilibrium theory, Geometrical constraints, Vicariance, Speciation
- Testing: Experimentation, Simulation, Null models
Knowledge:
- Knowledge on diversity patterns of organisms from local to global scale
- Understanding of the processes that determine species distributions and abundances
- Operational understanding of theories on how communities are assembled
Skills:
- Identify and describe diversity patterns from local to global scale
- Suggest and investigate possible diversity pattern-shaping mechanisms
- Evaluate, compare and elaborate theories behind diversity patterns
- Apply and interpret relevant statistical tools and tests
- Contribute on a scientific basis to debates concerning management of biodiversity in light of global changes in land-use and climate.
Competences:
- Ability to evaluate theories about diversity patterns and processes
- Ability to use and interpret relevant computational tools and test methods
- Conceptual basis to contribute to management practice and opinion formation
See Absalon.
Three to five exercise hours that may be:
Readings of papers
Operational exercises (mainly calculus)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 28
- Class Instruction
- 15
- Preparation
- 139
- Practical exercises
- 20
- Exam
- 4
- Total
- 206
Written individual feedback on exercise reports. Oral collective feedback during classes.
Open for credit transfer students and other external students. Apply here:
Credit transfer students apply here
Other external students apply here
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- On-site written exam, 4 hours under invigilation
- Exam registration requirements
It is mandatory to hand in exercise reports and have them approved by the teacher.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
The use of generative AI is not allowed in answering the exam
Digital Notes (It is allowed to upload notes for the ITX exam via digital exam. You will find a link to this feature from your exam in Digital Exam).
Access to Excel
Access to R/RStudio
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Re-exam
Same as the ordinary exam
If 10 or fewer students have registered for the re-exam, the examination form will be changed to an oral examination, 20 minutes with 20 minutes preparation time and all aids allowed.
Criteria for exam assesment
In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- SGBK20002U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- 50
Study board
- Study Board for the Biological Area
Contracting departments
- Globe
- Department of Biology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Michael Krabbe Borregaard (mkborregaard@sund.ku.dk)
- Hans Henrik Bruun (HHBruun@bio.ku.dk)